LAST UNDEFEATED TEAMS IN CHL SQUARE OFF IN EPIC MATCHUP FRIDAY NIGHT

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Friday night will mark the most important games of the season for two of the top performing teams in the Central Hockey League. This weekend, the Rapid City Rush (9-0-0, 18 pts, 1st CHL) will go head-to-head against the Missouri Mavericks (8-0-0, 16 pts, 3rd CHL), as the last remaining undefeated teams in the CHL.

Both the Rush and the Mavericks are playing some of the best hockey to this point in the young season. Rapid City has won all nine games to date, including five in a row against the Arizona Sundogs most recently, sweeping them in three games in Arizona and twice in Rapid City last weekend. The Mavericks just completed the sweep of the struggling Wichita Thunder in a two-game home-and-home set to win all eight of their games, and will begin a three game road trip that will see them play the Rush on Friday and Saturday night, and the Denver Cutthroats next Tuesday.

“I am very excited for the matchup this weekend,” said Head Coach and GM Joe Ferras in “The Rush Hour with Coach Ferras” last night at H2O Bar and Grill. “I think this will be a great test for our hockey club both as a team and as individuals. We know Missouri has a lot of depth and is a very skilled team with one of the best power plays in the league. These are the games as players and coaches that you are very excited about and want to be a part of. I don’t believe this has happened very often in the CHL, where two undefeated teams eight and nine games into the regular season go head to head. It will be amazing to see the fans pack Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and come see some great exciting hockey.

“I think our team is playing some very good hockey. We’re starting to see players and lines gelling together, and the work ethic and compete level has been excellent all season. We know that we will have to continue to build on this going into the weekend to be successful. We have a lot of character and a great leadership group in our locker room and they are very excited for this upcoming weekend as well. It will certainly be a play-off atmosphere this weekend, and we look forward to the challenge for sure”.

Much is at stake for both clubs in this two-game set. For starters, remaining the lone undefeated team in the league is on everyone’s mind. Early supremacy in the CHL comes with that perfect record remaining intact as well. More interesting though, both teams have a chance to re-write the record books in the CHL and set a new mark for “Most Consecutive Wins to Start a Season”. The current record is 10 games, first set by the 2002/03 Austin IceBats, an act repeated only by the Laredo Bucks in 2007/08. The Rush can accomplish this feat by sweeping the two game set, while the Mavericks can tie that record if they should sweep the set themselves.

Both Friday and Saturday night’s games will be at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center at 7:05 PM. Tickets are available by calling the Rush offices at 716-PUCK (7825), or on the web at www.gotmine.com. You can also tune into the game on 100.3 The FOX, the official radio home of your Rapid City Rush.

Other Rush News:

Season tickets for the 2013-14 season are available now by calling the Rush office at 716-7825.

Don’t forget to join Mark Binetti, “Voice of the Rush”, and Head Coach and GM Joe Ferras for “The Rush Hour with Coach Ferras presented by Miller Lite” next Monday night, November 18th. Show will start at 6 PM at H2O Bar and Grill, and will be broadcast on 100.3 The FOX, the official radio home of your Rapid City Rush.

Stay informed on Rush happenings through the official Rapid City Rush team website, www.RapidCityRush.com.

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